You know their faces and figures from a zillion magazine spreads and TV shows; Hollywood’s hottest stars, with their impossibly perfect looks. They seem as untouchable to the average woman as the constellations in the sky. And no matter how hard you hit the treadmill – or how many hair appliances you buy – it seems like you’ll never measure up. Well, relax. Without the help of some super-secret beauty and style cheats, many stars would be surprisingly so-so. Read on for star secrets that’ll be a hit on the red carpet (or just your living room carpet). Plus: Find out if you need a makeover…

Beauty Cheat #1: Stars Are Skinny

Not necessarily, says celebrity wardrobe stylist Ricci DeMartino of Los Angeles’ Cloutier Agency. “It’s all an illusion. Stars are real people with real [figure flaws],” avows the fashionista, whose household-name clients have included Patricia Heaton and Eva Longoria. “A handful of celebrities started out as models but most are normal people like you and me.”

How are Hollywood’s hottest pulling a Houdini when it comes to their weight? Would you believe it’s all in the pose? “There is actually a way to stand [to look pounds thinner]. I’ve given lessons to tons of actresses,” says DeMartino.

“Your left foot is turned to 11 o’clock while the heel of your right foot is pressed almost against the instep of the left, like a V shape. All your weight is on the left leg, your knee slightly bent.” Look at photos of any celebrity and you’ll recognize the stance, confides De Martino. “Sharon Stone does it perfectly.”

Besides knowing the exact way to say cheese, smart celebs are also in on a huge style secret, says DeMartino: “Monochromatic dressing – navy on navy, red on red – is slenderizing. Wearing black pants and a red top cuts you in half but khaki pants and a taupe top makes you [lean] and pulled together.” Just make sure the items involved are no more than one hue apart or you won’t get the desired effect!

Beauty Cheat #2: Stars Have Perfectly Flat Stomachs

As if! When Beyonce’s skirt recently blew upward mid-concert, revealing what looked to be a belly-slimming undergarment, tongues wagged in thin-is-in Los Angeles. But DeMartino says Beyonce’s far from the only starlet to consider the girdled approach.

“The minimizing undergarment is rampant in Hollywood,” admits the wardrobe expert. “In my closet, I have so many different ones, from full-body on down, for when my clients need it at the last minute. You don’t want a bulge if you’re wearing something elegant.”

The most popular brand by far? Spanx, a line of figure-controlling panties and tights, are adored by everyone from Tyra Banks and Jessica Alba to Oprah herself. Gwyneth Paltrow publicly confessed that the only way she carried off eveningwear after her daughter’s birth was by wearing two pairs of Spanx underneath her clothes! Remember that the next time you sigh about your silhouette!

Beauty Cheat #3: Stars Have Luscious, Long Locks

Ever open a magazine and marvel at how your favorite TV star grew her hair out so quickly and perfectly? It’s called hair extensions, darling! “Hair extensions are [everywhere] in Hollywood,” says hairstylist Jenn Injaian of The Loft, a Sherman Oaks, CA-based salon with an A-list head count.

In fact, says the hair pro, anyone who’s famous enough for first-name-only status probably has a fake lock or two on their heads: “Jessica, Britney, Paris…At one time or other, they’ve all had them. Paris Hilton is known for having short hair and using hair extensions [for appearances].”

And while you may envy these Tinseltown tresses, the price of such beauty isn’t cheap. Extensions can cost upward of $1,500 and take as long as six hours to apply. And that’s not counting maintenance visits to the salon every two months! Doesn’t that make you feel better about your very real, and really imperfect, hair?

P.S.: Want the real secret to better hair in a jiff? Don’t shampoo every day! Injaian says the oils that build up when hair isn’t squeaky clean create a smoother ’do. In fact, some stars claim they never wash their hair the day of a big awards show!

Beauty Cheat #5: Stars Are Naturally Stylish.

Reese Witherspoon is sitting pretty in a fabulous dress and stilettos, being interviewed by Katie Couric. You’re wishing you knew how to pull it together like that. Newsflash: That outfit took a week of planning by a Tinseltown SWAT team.

“There are teams of people behind these celebrities – [handling] everything from hair and makeup and wardrobe to perfectly tweezed eyebrows,” says stylist DeMartino. Besides a glamour squad and free designer clothes, A-listers have another advantage over the rest of us: They’ve studied with the style gurus.

“The stars get to learn from professionals,” says DeMartino, noting that the job of dressing the famous for press appearances includes numerous shopping trips and try-ons. “I’ll take them [out] and [show them what works],” he notes.

While you may not be able to hire DeMartino for your next jaunt to Macy’s, you can still become a fashion pro. First, do your research. Get current on this year’s trends by reading entertainment and style magazines. Take notice of what fashion-forward women in your city are wearing and which looks you like. Then, hit the boutiques with a trusted friend.

Try on tons of different looks – even ones you’d never consider -- to get a feel for what works on you. DeMartino warns against personal shoppers or overly complimentary salesgirls, who earn commissions on your purchase. If you and your “second opinion” like an outfit, buy it. “But make sure there’s a good return policy,” adds our clotheshorse. Stores are known for tricking out lights and mirrors to make merchandise sell. And it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the MasterCard moment.

Beauty Cheat #6: Stars Always Look Tan

Do movie stars have more melatonin? Not exactly. The secret behind Lindsay Lohan’s (and countless other’s) perpetual burnish is Mystic Tan, a process in which self-bronzer is sprayed onto the whole body in a tanning booth.

The faux glow, a fresh-from-the-beach color, which lasts four to seven days, is UV-ray free. Everyone from Paula Abdul to Carmen Electra and Lisa Rinna are Mystic Tan fans. The treatment is so popular in Los Angeles, some salons sell tanning memberships!

Don’t fret if your own skin tone screams “work” rather than “Waikiki.” DeMartino says pick up an inexpensive self-tanner at Target, exfoliate first for even tanning and there’s a chance you’ll look as good as Jennifer Aniston (well, before the makeup and styling).

“Celebrities have access to a lot of stuff,” concludes DeMartino. “But there are always innovative ways to [cheat] the same look.”

Do You Need A Makeover?
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